Wednesday, October 29, 2008

I have started rehearsing for another aerial dance performance. The shows will be in late January and possibly early February. Our portion of the show is about one third of the whole.

Group reviews the rigging

Last night we set up an array of aparatus to explore an idea. It was unlike anything most of us had ever done before, at least since age 8 or so! Everyone had ample opportunity to explore the rig, singly and occassionally in pairs or trios. We simply explored what it was like to move on each element, and to move between them.

There is more, so follow the link for the rest of the post... Amy

It was definitely an assortment of apparatus that rewarded strength, both arm and core.

Jeff

Brute strength was not required, but it certainly did not hurt. Where strength was not primary, fluid motion and experience filled in nicely.

Anita

Ilana

Megan

All of us agreed at the end of the evening that we had found amazing new ways to acquire bruises and sore muscles! I had been feeling pretty run down when I arrived at rehearsal, but the sheer enjoyment of playing in the air with these amazing people had me feeling better in no time.

Our efforts were lightly directed, fostered, and joined by the owner of the Mazomanie Movement Arts Center where we rehearse. Here she is, Mars:

Fearless Leader, Mars

The opportunity to work with such collaborative and supportive dancers is a real treat. I savor each moment of it, and hope that with these few photographs I can share some of the experience.

Sunday, October 26, 2008

Reena and I drove from Madison to Green Bay, WI, this weekend to celebrate the marriage of my nephew. He actually got married a month ago, in California, but since he grew up in Wisconsin, and his parents still live here, there was a second reception for the couple. Along the way, we decided to stop at Horicon Marsh and check out the goose migration action. It was cold and windy, and not at all a pleasant fall day for hiking around a marsh.

Horicon Marsh

We found the boardwalk trail and walked on it out into the marsh. While there were geese to be seen, it was not the sort of big honk-in that we were hoping for.

Horicon Boardwalk Trail

What we did see was a flock of a dozen or more sandhill cranes flying by. They make such an odd sound that it was easy to hear them coming. In a fit of stupidity, I neglected to turn on the optical stabilization feature of my new lens (post to come!). I was at full zoom, 200 mm, and this is still a crop. That OS would surely have helped me get a sharper image. OK, maybe next time.

Saturday, October 25, 2008

It was another one of those Friday nights when my fun-o-meter gets a workout. After a normal Friday post-work rendezvous at the Great Dane brewpub with Reena and good friends, we went to a pagode party.

Chris and Gute

It was not a typical pagode party for the first two or three hours, as the music that was unfolding was not Brazilian. It was all over the board, with a strange array of instruments.

I alternated between playing and taking photos. Having just eaten, I did not think I would be interested when the churrasco came off the grill, but just one taste of that succulent, salty carne and I definitely wanted more. Since I knew that there were people there who had not eaten, I restrained myself and only nibbled. But mmMMMM, it was good! Thus fueled, and bolstered by beer, the musicians played on.

I was not able to stay until the wee hours of the morning, and the music was just shifting to samba when I left. Reena stayed late and says the music was fun right up until it was done. Yeah, another Friday night thoroughly seized.

Thursday, October 23, 2008

I guess I understand the concept of creating art with the milk in a latte, but it seems I am clearly a long way from making art. Well, it looks ok, and tastes great, so I guess my day is off to a fine start!

Tuesday, October 21, 2008

All those colorful leaves I saw over the weekend were definitely a sign of things to come. This morning the temperature dipped to 30 degrees (F) at the very end of night as dawn was breaking. As I left for work I jumped into the car and started it up before really noticing my frosted windshield. My heart sank a little, and I turned on the wipers in the vain hope that the frost was really light and would brush right off. Of course it did not. I slid back out to scrape it before realizing that my real winter scrapers were in the garage. I made do with a lightweight, free promotional scraper that lives in the map pocket of the door. A few scrapes was all I gave it, counting on the defroster and a little time to take care of it. Two blocks later my windshield was mostly clear and I did not feel guilty about having a partially obstructed view.

Samhain, Hallowe'en to non-Pagans, marks the halfway point between the autumnal equinox and Yule, the winter solstice.

Monday, October 20, 2008

It seems that Bud was missing out on selling all the craft brewed beer that snobs like me were drinking. So they started producing an American Ale. That's an APA to You Who Know, but sounds too frou-frou for the Nascar set. I looked at the label and there it was, my favorite: Cascade hops. So, I bought a sixer. (Yo, McCrusty! This is Nataraj Sixpack talkin' to ya. Quit lyin!) I did a torn-off label taste test on the missus, and she declared it "passably drinkable". Me too. The real test - as with all Bud products - is if we get a headache from drinking it because they use crap ingredients like rice to make the alcohol rather than adhering to reinheitsgebot.

We shall see.

NEXT MORNING UPDATE: No headache, but part way through the second bottle (accompanied by a tasty pizza) I realized I didn't much like it. So, about what I expected - a decent attempt by a huge corporation to "get it", but they simply don't know how. One wonders if the executives of Budweiser (or now InBev) drink their own beer. I would wager large sums of money that they do not. Conclusion: Enough piss! Back to the good stuff.

Sunday, October 19, 2008

People who do not live in Wisconsin often ask why I choose to live here. After all, they say, do you not have winter for eight months per year? While sometimes it does seem like that, last winter being a great example since we did not see the ground for five months because it was buried under 100 inches of snowfall, we also have four distinct seasons. And that, my friends, is what makes Wisconsin a fine place to live. Yes we get cold weather, often a week or more each year where the temperature does not get above zero degrees (F). Yes we get hot and humid weeks with 90 degrees (F) and 80 percent humidity. Yes we have swarms of mosquitos ready to drain you of blood. As compensation for that we get spring and fall. This fall, in particular, is showcasing what it is all about.

Trees a-Blazing

Follow the link for more photos...The colors are almost unbelievable. Trees and shrubs go from green, green, green to yellow!, orange! and red!

Now THAT is red!

Electric Color

The sky is an aching blue,

Makes you want to use biofuel...

and even the bird food gets into the act.

Tomatoes for the Birds

And we get out there and savour it. Saturday Reena and I took a short hike through the Arboretum, encountering dozens of like-minded folk who were soaking up the sun and wallowing in the amazing colors. Cameras were everywhere. It was warm enough to skip the hat and gloves, but cool enough that most were in fleece or medium jackets. But all, and I do mean all, wore smiles.

Reena With Leaf Bouquet

We do love our autumn here in Wisconsin. There is nothing like it (except in Minnesota and Michigan). In a week or two the show will be over. Trees bare, skies grey, and snow just around the corner. But for now, the world is ablaze, and I would not miss it for the world.

Saturday, October 18, 2008

Intrepid drone Honey Bee failed to return from his last mission. Relentless in his pursuit of nectar, he covered a wide swath seeking out late blooming flowers. Finding a rare trove of cosmos in the Waubesa Street region, he gathered the precious food. Unfortunately he underestimated the rapidly deteriorating conditions, and the sharp drop in temperature caught him unawares. Still laden with a load for the hive, he found himself unable to clear the petals and fly home. His persistence and determination will be sorely missed by the entire hive. May the Goddess welcome him to the land of blooms and honey.

Last Flight of the Honeybee

UPDATE: To paraphrase the great Mark Twain, rumors of Honey Bee's demise have been greatly exaggerated. It turns out that Honey Bee - using skills that will make his trainers proud - managed to suspend animation for the night and survive the near-frigid conditions. As the morning sun finally kissed the plant from which he had been harvesting, his vital signs returned to normal and H. Bee resumed his duties.

Friday, October 17, 2008

Nothing profound or dramatic this time. I have been enjoying the prolific blooming of our cosmo plant in the front yard. Reena planted it this spring after it was clear that my dahlias had all died (I forgot to lift them last fall). It took them so long to bloom that she actually stood outside and hollered at them, "Bloom!"

Wednesday, October 15, 2008

At the last minute yesterday I decided to join a performance-oriented aerial dance class. I have been feeling the stress of too many irons in the fire, and had pulled away from committing to new tasks or activities. A Sunday night arm-twisting conversation, and a timely Tuesday morning email pushed me over the edge. My desire to perform was added incentive.

The class itself is small, and therefor the opportunity to create something I desire is pretty good. I'll be dancing with 3-4 women with whom I enjoy rehearsing and performing.

Megan and Me on a Lyra with Silk

There are more photos and story, so follow the link.The theme is loosely based on "Where the Wild Things Are" and the choreography and sets will be woodsy. No details yet since last night was the first rehearsal and we will create the performance over the next 14 weeks or so.

Megan and Me

Megan in a Silk in a Lyra

In addition to this apparatus, we have plans to use a low trapeze or two, some steel rings, possibly bungies (with dancer in harness), and maybe some other apparatus as well. We are pondering the use of a German Wheel, too. I find that having committed, I am eagerly anticipating the process of creating, and performing in, another show.

Megan and Amy

These photos were shot without a flash, and were my first "keepers" using the camera at ISO 1600. It did alright, but the images are a bit underexposed and grainy. I will have to experiment further to get better results.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Pewit's Nest, near Baraboo, WI, needs little in the way of words. It lends itself quite nicely to photographs. The lovely Reena and I were out galavanting on the motorcycles, and visited the Nest for about an hour. The fall leaves certainly changed it from my first visit.

Pewit's Nest

There are more photos after the jump, so follow the link.The Upper Falls

The Exit

The Bowl

Unfortunately for me the best spot from which to take photographs was already staked out. According to another frustrated shooter, he had been there for quite some time when I arrived, and was still parked right there when I left over an hour later. Not a problem, certainly, but unfortunate for the rest of us.

The first photo in this series showing most of the canyon was shot from a vantage point just over his head. The top of his camera is about one inch out of the frame.

UPDATE: Here is a shot taken by Reena showing me in the second best location.

I had grand plans for Saturday; lot's of productive tasks. I started by washing all three of my motorcycles in preparation for putting one of them into winter storage this weekend. Two need an oil change, and that means going for a ride to warm the oil up (what a great excuse!). Well, taking one of them for a ride proved to be not perfect as it stalled, several times, leaving me thinking I was stranded. It is a kick-start only motorcycle, and my leg is feeling the effects of a hundred or so kicks today. After finally solving that problem and getting back home, I was hot and a bit frustrated so I switched tasks and did a few other things on my self-imposed honey-do list. By mid-afternoon it was time for another ride. I fired up the MZ Baghira and went blasting around for an hour or so, enjoying the start of fall colors.

MZ in Fall Plumage 1

There's more, so follow the link!I realized that I had not had much in the way of food yet that day, so when my wanderings rolled me into Stoughton, WI, I decided that a cup of coffee and a cookie would be just the ticket. So when I saw the "Koffee Kup" restaurant, I figured that was the place to stop.

Kuppa Koffee at the Koffee Kup

They didn't seem to have cookies, so I forced myself to eat a piece of tasty pecan pie, warmed up just a tad. It was just about perfect.

MZ in Fall Plumage, II

Continuing on my way I simply opted to let the fall colors wash over me. I looked for photo opportunities, but they were less convenient than I was in the mood for, so I contented myself with merely savoring them as I blew by. I returned home safely, dove through the shower, and headed downtown to pick up my lady faire who was at work. We headed to Restaurant Magnus for a drink and tapas.

Trendy, new vodka martini

I was delighted to see that they had the new Prairie Organic vodka on hand. It's new to market and made from grains harvested in Minnesota. It was yummy and I can see a bottle of it in my future.

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Another studio study. I wanted to convey mystery and singular focus. Here's the scene:

It is 1550 in the Year of our Lord. All evening you have been playing at cards and dice, enjoying the fermentation of the grapes from the Rhine valley near Mainz. Both the wine and the gambling were sweet, and you indulged freely in both. Now, sated and considerably wealthier, you return to your room near the Dom, stumbling a little on the uneven cobbles. The quiet sssssssSting of a drawn sword sharpens your wits. Your eyes focus with razor sharpness on the basket of a swept-hilted rapier as it appears in the lone light in the window of the Schokoladenhaus. You are about to be robbed.

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